Doc. 8862
6 October 2000

Financing of the European Court of Human Rights

Motion for a recommendation

presented by Mrs Nabholz-Haidegger and others

This motion has not been discussed in the Assembly and commits only the members who have signed it

1.       Aware of the crucial role played by the European Court of Human Rights, which has no equivalent in Europe, in protecting human rights and strengthening the rule of law throughout the continent;

2.       Noting that, since the entry into force of Protocol No. 11, reforming the control machinery, and with 41 states now parties to the European Convention on Human Rights, the Court is having to cope with an ever increasing number of applications;

3.       Regretting that the human and financial resources available to the Council of Europe, and in particular the European Court of Human Rights, have not increased commensurately with their workload;

4.       Noting with regret that the steadily increasing number of applications could affect the length of proceedings before the Court and the security of the rights it guarantees;

5.       Acknowledging that a more efficient Court would strengthen the Council of Europe’s position vis-à-vis the European Union;

6.       Taking good note of the appeal made at its fourth part session by the President of the Court, on the occasion of the ceremony to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the European Convention on Human Rights, asking its members to urge their respective governments to give the Court the wherewithal to perform its task;

7.       The Assembly recommends that the Committee of Ministers grant the Court the necessary resources to enable it to meet the challenges resulting from the enlargement of the Organisation and to continue its work in full independence.

Signed : ¹

Nabholz-Haidegger, Switzerland, LDR

Bindig, Germany, SOC

Clerfayt, Belgium, LDR

Fehr, Switzerland, LDR

Frey, Switzerland, LDR

Gross, Switzerland, SOC

Jansson, Finland, LDR

Jurgens, Netherlands, SOC

Magnusson, Sweden, SOC

McNamara, United Kingdom, SOC

Ojuland, Estonia, LDR

Ragnarsdottir, Iceland, EDG

Stoisits, Austria, SOC

van der Linden, Netherlands, EPP/CD

Vermot-Mangold, Switzerland, SOC

Wohlwend, Liechtenstein, EPP/CD

Zapfl-Helbling, Switzerland, EPP/CD

¹        SOC: Socialist Group

      EPP/CD: Group of the European People’s Party

      EDG: European Democratic Group

      LDR : Liberal, Democratic and Reformers’ Group

      UEL: Group of the Unified European Left

      NR: not registered in a group